MBS OKs budget

Published 8:00 pm, Thursday, December 26, 2002

FREELAND  Revenue for MBS International Airport is expected to decline by $250,000 in 2003, but the new budget increases the marketing budget by $25,000.

The MBS International Airport Commission has approved a $5 million budget, which does not include federal dollars. Revenue comes from landing, rental and concession fees paid by airport businesses.

Next years marketing budget will increase to $275,000. Airport Manager Betty Owen said that means MBS can continue its Business Alliance Program and its work with airport consultant Michael Boyd.

U.S. Airways and Continental Airlines have pulled out of MBS, although Owen hopes Continental will return when traffic bottlenecks at its Cleveland hub are fixed. Owen hopes Boyds expertise in the industry will help in "knocking on airlines doors" in case one of them might want to expand service and come to MBS.

More than 50 area companies are part of MBS Business Alliance Program, in which companies pledge to originate their travels from MBS.

MBS plans to save money by cutting minor maintenance projects, Owen said. But she said that wont prevent the airport from paying for needed fixes and repairs.

MBS will carry over about $1.6 million into next years budget, slightly less than what was carried over last year, Owen said. That leaves a total of $3.4 million in projected revenues.

From a budget standpoint, Owen said the lowest point this year was in June, when passenger travel was down 16 percent compared to the same period a year before. Figures for the year are not yet available, but Owen estimates travel will be down 8 percent compared to last year. Thats about average for airports around the nation, particularly for those with major dependence on business travel.

MBS should receive $1 million in federal money next year, about the same as in recent years. Likely uses for that money will include a building to house snow removal chemicals and upgraded security measures.

"Thats kind of a generalized word because were not sure what will be included in that," she said of the security improvements.

One possibility would be improving MBS computerized security system, which checks identification badges that must be worn by anyone who works at MBS.